Fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product

Abstract

A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of preparing a smokeless tobacco product comprising:
 melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone; 
 passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone; and 
 applying an electrostatic charge with one or more holding devices to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a surfactant is applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers as they exit spinners. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deposited polymeric fibers have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the deposited polymeric fibers have a basis weight of less than 5 gsm. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deposited fibers have a diameter of less than 100 microns. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body is has a spin when passing through the polymer deposition zone. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers are above a melt temperature for the polymer when impacting the body such that they conform to tobacco fibrous structures. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a diameter of less than 30 microns. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers are melt-blown fibers having a diameter of between 0.5 and 10.0 microns. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun fibers having a diameter of between 0.01 microns and 1.0 micron. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the melt-blown polymeric fibers are quenched with a mist such that the polymeric fibers are quenched below a melt temperature of the polymer upon impacting the body. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mist comprises water vapor, a surfactant, or air. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise polypropylene. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise at least two different materials. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise a colorant. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two different polymeric materials are coextruded to form composite polymeric fibers of the two polymeric materials. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the polymeric materials is mouth-stable and at least one of the polymeric materials is mouth-dissolvable. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body has an overall oven volatiles content of about 4% by weight to about 61% by weight. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a binder. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the body comprises between 0.1 and 0.5 weight percent of a binder. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the binder comprises guar gum, xanthan gum, cellulose ether, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body is held by one or more holding devices during the passage of that body through the polymer deposition zone. 
     
     
       23. A method of preparing a smokeless tobacco product comprising:
 melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone; and 
 passing a body through the polymer deposition zone while rotating the body with one or more holding devices; and 
 applying an electrostatic charge to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof, with the one or more holding devices. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 1  or  claim 23 , wherein each of the one or more holding devices is a needle-like structure. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 1  or  23 , wherein the needle-like structure has a diameter of less than 500 microns.